Temporary television rights scheme grant based on uncertain measureable events

ABSTRACT

Various arrangements for authorizing content viewing are detailed herein. Sports wager data corresponding to a sports wager placed by a user may be provided to a television service provider system. The television service provider system can perform a lookup action to determine a content event based on the sports wager data. In response to the received sports wager data, a user account may be authorized using a rights scheme for access to a television channel on which the content event is scheduled to be broadcast. The television service provider system may deauthorized the user account for access to the television channel by removing the rights scheme such that access to the television channel on which the content event was broadcast is blocked after the event.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 17/362,933, filed on Jun. 29, 2021, which isincorporated by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Sports wagering has become more popular as it has been legalized in agreater number of jurisdictions. A typical user may place a wager inorder to have a greater rooting interest in a particular sporting event.Such a user may wish to place a bet and watch some or all of a broadcastof the sporting event. Embodiments detailed herein facilitate suchgambling on and viewing of sporting events.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments are described related to a system for authorizingcontent viewing. In some embodiments, system for authorizing contentviewing is described. The system may comprise a television serviceprovider system. The system may be configured to receive, from anelectronic sportsbook provider system, sports wager data correspondingto a sports wager placed by a user. The system may be configured toperform a lookup to determine a content event based on the sports wagerdata. The system may be configured to, in response to the receivedsports wager data, authorize a user account using a rights scheme foraccess to a television channel on which the content event is scheduledto be broadcast. The system may be configured to deauthorize the useraccount for access to the television channel by removing the rightsscheme such that access to the television channel on which the contentevent was broadcast may be blocked in response to the received sportswager data.

Embodiments of such a system may include one or more of the followingfeatures: the television service provider system may be furtherconfigured to transmit authorized channel data for the user account tothe electronic sportsbook provider system. The system may furthercomprise the electronic sportsbook provider system configured to set aminimum bet amount partially based on the authorized channel data forthe user account. The system may further comprise the electronicsportsbook provider system configured to set odds partially based on theauthorized channel data for the user account. The electronic sportsbookprovider system may be further configured to receive an indication fromthe user indicating that viewing access to the content event is desired.The electronic sportsbook provider system may be further configured tomap the user account to the user. The sports wager data corresponding tothe sports wager may be transmitted by the electronic sportsbookprovider system to the television service provider system based at leastin part on the indication from the user indicating that viewing accessto the content event is desired. The television service provider systemmay be configured to receive, from the electronic sportsbook providersystem, sports wager data corresponding to a plurality of sports wagersplaced by the user, the plurality of sports wagers comprising the sportswager. The television service provider system may be configured to causea mosaic interface to be configured at a content viewing device mappedto the user account that may cause a plurality of content eventscorresponding to the plurality of sports wagers to be output forpresentation concurrently. The content event indicates: the televisionchannel; a date; a start time; and an end time. The system may furthercomprise a television receiver device. The television service providersystem may be further configured to stream the television channel to thetelevision receiver device via a television distribution network. Thetelevision receiver device may be mapped to the user account. Thetelevision receiver device may be further configured to present anindication of the sports wager placed by the user concurrently with thetelevision channel. The system may further comprise a computerizedstreaming device. The television service provider system may be furtherconfigured to stream the television channel to an application beingexecuted by the computerized streaming device via the Internet. The useraccount may be active within the application. The television serviceprovider system being configured to deauthorize the user account foraccess to the television channel by removing the rights scheme may bebased on the content event having concluded.

In some embodiments, a method for authorizing content viewing isdescribed. The method may comprise receiving, by a television serviceprovider system from an electronic sportsbook provider system, sportswager data corresponding to a sports wager placed by a user. The methodmay comprise performing, by the television service provider system, alookup to determine a content event based on the sports wager data. Themethod may comprise, in response to the received sports wager data,authorizing, by the television service provider system, a user accountusing a rights scheme for access to a television channel on which thecontent event may be scheduled to be broadcast. The method may comprisedeauthorizing, by the television service provider system, the useraccount for access to the television channel by removing the rightsscheme such that access to the television channel on which the contentevent was broadcast may be blocked in response to the received sportswager data.

Embodiments of such a method may include one or more of the followingfeatures: the method may further comprise transmitting authorizedchannel data for the user account to the electronic sportsbook providersystem. The method may further comprise setting, by the electronicsportsbook provider system, a minimum bet amount partially based on theauthorized channel data for the user account. The method may furthercomprise setting, by the electronic sportsbook provider system, oddspartially based on the authorized channel data for the user account. Themethod may further comprise receiving, by the electronic sportsbookprovider system, an indication from the user indicating that viewingaccess to the content event is desired. The method may further comprisemapping, by the electronic sportsbook provider system, the user accountto the user. The sports wager data corresponding to the sports wager maybe transmitted by the electronic sportsbook provider system to thetelevision service provider system based at least in part on theindication from the user indicating that viewing access to the contentevent is desired. The method may further comprise receiving, by thetelevision service provider system from the electronic sportsbookprovider system, sports wager data corresponding to a plurality ofsports wagers placed by the user, the plurality of sports wagerscomprising the sports wager. The method may further comprise causing, bythe television service provider system, a mosaic interface to beconfigured at a content viewing device mapped to the user account thatcauses a plurality of content events corresponding to the plurality ofsports wagers to be output for presentation concurrently. The contentevent may indicate: the television channel; a date; a start time; and anend time. The method may further comprise streaming, by the televisionprovider system, the television channel to the television receiverdevice via a television distribution network. The television receiverdevice may be mapped to the user account. The method may furthercomprise outputting for presentation, by the television receiver device,an indication of the sports wager placed by the user concurrently withthe television channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of variousembodiments may be realized by reference to the following figures. Inthe appended figures, similar components or features may have the samereference label. Further, various components of the same type may bedistinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a secondlabel that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the firstreference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for authorizing contentviewing.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a television distribution system.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a television service providersystem.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a sports wagering user interface.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a method for authorizing contentviewing.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of a method for authorizingcontent viewing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments detailed herein are focused on linking outcomes of uncertainmeasurable events with temporary rights granted to view a broadcast ofthe event, such as via an entitlement control message (ECM) broadcastvia a satellite television distribution system. An event cam bebroadcast on a single television channel in a given region, to whichaccess may be separately acquired by a user. Despite the user beinginterested in viewing a particular event, the user may not havesufficient access rights to decrypt, descramble, or otherwise access thetelevision channel. The user may be disinclined to wager on a particularevent if the user will be unable to watch the event in real-time or willrequire the user to separately interact with a television serviceprovider to obtain access rights.

Embodiments detailed herein are focused on securely linking an externalsystem with a television service provider system to provide temporarycontent viewing rights. A user can be authorized to view the eventcorresponding to the uncertain measurable event via the televisionservice provider system. Further, in some embodiments, by the externalsystem being in communication with the television service providersystem, parameters of a wager can be adjusted based on whether access toviewing of the uncertain measurable event is to be included as part ofthe wager. For example, a previously established rights package mappedto a user may be analyzed against possible wagers that can be placed bythe user via the electronic sportsbook provider system. If viewingaccess is to be included as part of the wager, the minimum amount, odds,or other parameters may be adjusted to factor in that rights to accessthe event are to be granted.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for authorizing contentviewing (“system 100”). System 100 can include: television serviceprovider system 110; television receivers 120 (120-1, 120-2);televisions 130 (130-1, 130-2); network 140; electronic sportsbookprovider system 150 (“sportsbook system 150”); content server system160; mobile device 170; computerized device 180; and streaming device190. Person 101 can be referred to as a “television viewer” or “user.”

Television service provider system 110 may broadcast live televisionprogramming to television receivers 120 and/or transmit live televisionprogramming as a streaming service via the Internet to computerizeddevices and streaming devices. “Live” television programming refers totelevision programming that is transmitted substantiallycontemporaneously with the event occurring. Live television programmingmay include a delay of up to several minutes. For instance, a sportingevent that is broadcast with a delay of up to a few minutes, such as toedit out offensive audio, would qualify as live television programming.Such live television programming may be received from various contentproviders, then relayed by television service provider system 110 totelevision receivers 120 via a television distribution network and/or asan over-the-top (OTT) service to computerized and/or streaming devicesvia the Internet (or some other public network). Streams of manytelevision channels may be broadcast live via various types oftelevision programming distribution networks, such as a satellite-basednetwork, a cable-based network, an IP-based network, or an OTTtelevision distribution network. In addition to streaming livetelevision channels, television service provider system 110 may transmiton-demand content, applications for execution, electronic programmingguide (EPG) data, metadata, and other services ancillary to livetelevision programming. Further detail regarding a possible embodimentof television service provider system 110 is provided in relation toFIG. 2 .

While two television receivers 120 are presented, this number oftelevision receivers is merely for illustration—many more televisionreceivers may receive live television programming from televisionservice provider system 110 in other embodiments. A television receiver,such as television receiver 120-2, may be integrated as part of atelevision or other form of display device or may be a separate device,such as a set top box (STB), that receives data from television serviceprovider system 110 and outputs the data for presentation, such as totelevision 130-1. The data received by a television receiver may bescrambled or encrypted and the television receiver may only haveauthorization to decode/descramble particular television channels and/orparticular groups of television channels based on a rights schemeassigned to the user account mapped to the television receiver.

Additionally or alternatively, some other form of device that is capableof outputting television programming for presentation may be usedinstead of television receivers 120. For instance, televisionprogramming, such as a live sporting event, may be distributed overnetwork 140 (e.g., including the Internet). Computerized device 180,such as a smartphone, gaming device, or tablet computer may be used toview the television programming. The same computerized device may beused to interact with sportsbook system 150. Computerized device 180 mayexecute operating system 182. A user may install streaming application184 on computerized device 180, which permits the user to use a useraccount to access television service provider system 110 via network140. The user may be permitted to view any television channel viacomputerized device 180 for which the user account is presentlyauthorized, such as due to a subscription or other grant of rights.

Streaming device 190 can represent a computerized device that does notdirectly output video. For instance, streaming device 190 may be pluggedinto a port of television 130-2, which can be used to output videoand/or audio. Similar to computerized device 180, streaming device 190can execute operating system 192 using one or more processors. Streamingapplication 194 may be installed on streaming device 190, which canallow television programming streams output by television serviceprovider system 110 to be presented on television 130-2.

Television service provider system 110 may use a dedicatedtelevision-distribution network to communicate with television receivers120. Additionally or alternatively, network 140 may be used tocommunicate with television receivers 120 and/or sportsbook system 150,and content server system 160. Network 140 may include one or morepublic and/or private networks, which can include the Internet.

Sportsbook system 150 may be operated by an entity that is distinct fromthe entity operating television service provider system 110. Sportsbooksystem 150 may host various wagers and may be used to set the odds onsuch wagers. A person located in a jurisdiction that permits sportsgaming and is of legal age may be permitted to place a wager viasportsbook system 150. A person may be able to access sportsbook system150 using a computerized device, such as mobile device 170. Mobiledevice 170 may allow television viewer 101 to access sportsbook system150 via an application installed on mobile device 170 or by using a webbrowser on mobile device 170 to access the website of sportsbook system150. Mobile device 170 may be a smart phone, gaming device, tabletcomputer, laptop computer, cellular phone, desktop computer, personaldigital assistant, or some other form of computerized device.

Television service provider system 110 may communicate with sportsbooksystem 150 via network 140. Sportsbook system 150 may provide anindication of various wagers and the associated odds with such wagers totelevision service provider system 110. Television service providersystem 110 may relay such betting information to television receivers120. Sportsbook system 150 may also transmit indications of wagersplaced by particular television viewers to television service providersystem 110. Television service provider system 110 may relay wagersplaced by a particular television viewer to the television viewer'stelevision receiver for presentation. Sportsbook system 150 may querytelevision service provider system 110 to determine whether a user hasaccess to a particular television channel or for a listing of alltelevision channels to which the user has access. Alternatively, anindication of a wager may be sent to television service provider system110 by sportsbook system 150. Television service provider system 110 maydetermine a content event associated with the wager and determinewhether a user has access. An indication of whether the user has accessto the content event on a television channel may be provided back tosportsbook system 150.

Content server system 160 may provide information ancillary totelevision service provider system 110 and sportsbook system 150. Forexample, content server system 160 may provide details on the sportingevent, such as the television channel, the date, the scheduled starttime and scheduled end time of the sporting event on the televisionchannel, details of the teams and players participating in the sportingevent (e.g., team records, player-specific statistics), the location ofthe sporting event, and/or other details of the sporting event.

Television viewer 101 may be using television 130 to view the sportingevent. The sporting event may be received as live television programmingby television receiver 120-2 from television service provider system110. Television viewer 101 may use a remote control to interact withtelevision receiver 120-2. Television viewer 101 has an option to view asports gaming interface. In some embodiments, some other form ofelectronic device may be used, such as a computerized mobile device orsmartphone. This sports gaming interface can be output concurrently withtelevision programming, such as the live sporting event being viewed bytelevision viewer 101. The sports gaming interface may function as anapplication that is installed on television receiver 120-2. Televisionservice provider system 110 may have previously transmitted data to allof television receivers 120 or in response to a request for a particulartelevision receiver initiated by a user, such as television viewer 101.A similar interface may be presented via streaming applications 184 and194.

Television viewer 101 may also be using mobile device 170. Televisionviewer 101 may, via the sports gaming interface output by televisionreceiver 120-2, trigger one or more staged wagers to be transmitted tomobile device 170. In such embodiments, the sports gaming interfaceexecuted by television receiver 120-2 may transmit a pre-staged wager,which can include an indication of the one or more wagers (a wageidentifier) and an account identifier to television service providersystem 110. Television service provider system 110 relays thisinformation to sportsbook system 150 via network 140. Alternatively, thesports gaming interface may use an application programming interface(API) to relay an indication of the one or more wagers to the sportsbooksystem 150 (without communicating through television service providersystem 110). Sportsbook system 150 may then be triggered to transmit alink or notification to mobile device 170. In some embodiments, a pop-upnotification is presented on mobile device 170, that can be selected bytelevision viewer 101. Selection of such notification may cause awebsite or application executed by mobile device 170 to launch that willinclude the pre-staged wagers set up by television viewer 101 via thesports gaming interface output by television receiver 120-2. In otherembodiments, a link may be sent, such as via text message or email, tomobile device 170. Again here, watching the link may cause a website orapplication executed by mobile device 170 to launch that will includethe pre-staged wagers set up by television viewer 101 of the sportsgaming interface output by television receiver 120-2. Television viewer101 may then edit, fund, and/or otherwise complete the pre-staged wagersset up via the sports gaming interface. Similarly, television viewer 101may interact with mobile device 170 to complete a bet similarly whenviewing television channels via computerized device 180 and/or streamingdevice 190.

In some embodiments, television receiver 120-2 can communicate withmobile device 170. After television viewer 101 has pre-staged one ormore wagers using the sports gaming interface output by televisionreceiver 120-2, television viewer 101 can trigger presentation of amachine-readable code, such as a barcode or QR (Quick Response) code, tobe output by television receiver 120-2 and presented via television 130.The machine-readable code may be read by mobile device 170 using anapplication for reading machine-readable codes or functionalityintegrated into a sports gaming application associated with sportsbooksystem 150. The machine-readable code may have identifiers of the stagedwagers embedded. These identifiers may be used by sportsbook system 150to cause mobile device 170 to present the staged wagers and allowtelevision viewer 101 to edit, fund, and/or otherwise complete thepre-staged wagers.

Alternatively, an indication of such bets and an associated identifiermay be transmitted by television receiver 120-2 to television serviceprovider system 110, which may relay the information to sportsbooksystem 150. The associated identifier may be embedded in themachine-readable code and may be acquired by mobile device 170 byimaging the machine-readable code. The associated identifier may then betransmitted by mobile device 170 to sportsbook system 150 to retrievethe staged wagers that are mapped to the identifier.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a satellite-based televisiondistribution system 200. Satellite-based television distribution system200 may include: television service provider system 110, satellitetransmitter equipment 220, satellites 230, satellite antenna 240,television receiver 120-2, and television 130. Alternate embodiments ofsatellite-based television distribution system 200 may include fewer orgreater numbers of components. While only one satellite antenna 240,television receiver 120-2, and television 130 (which can collectively bereferred to as “user equipment”) are illustrated, it should beunderstood that multiple (e.g., tens, thousands, millions) instances ofuser equipment may receive television signals from television serviceprovider system 110 via satellites 230. In the example of FIG. 2 , whiletelevision service provider system 110 uses satellites to communicatewith television receiver 120-2, other forms of television programmingdistribution networks can be used in other embodiments.

Television service provider system 110 and satellite transmitterequipment 220 may be operated by a television service provider. Atelevision service provider may distribute television channels thatdistribute live television programming, on-demand programming,pay-per-view (PPV) programming, programming information, data, firmwareupdates, and/or other content/services to users. Television serviceprovider system 110 may receive feeds of one or more live televisionchannels from various sources. Such television channels may includemultiple television channels that contain at least some of the samecontent (e.g., network affiliates). To distribute television channelsfor presentation to users, feeds of the television channels may berelayed to user equipment via multiple television distributionsatellites. Each satellite may relay multiple transponder streams.Satellite transmitter equipment 220 (120-1, 220-2) may be used totransmit a feed of one or more television channels from televisionservice provider system 110 to one or more satellites 230. While asingle television service provider system 110 and satellite transmitterequipment 220 are illustrated as part of satellite-based televisiondistribution system 200, it should be understood that multiple instancesof transmitter equipment may be used, possibly scattered geographically,to communicate with satellites 230. Such multiple instances of satellitetransmitting equipment may communicate with the same or with differentsatellites. Different television channels may be transmitted tosatellites 230 from different instances of transmitting equipment. Forinstance, a different satellite antenna of satellite transmitterequipment 220 may be used for communication with satellites in differentorbital slots.

Satellites 230 may be configured to receive signals, such as streams oftelevision channels, from one or more satellite uplinks such assatellite transmitter equipment 220. Satellites 230 may relay receivedsignals from satellite transmitter equipment 220 (and/or other satellitetransmitter equipment) to multiple instances of user equipment viatransponder streams. Different frequencies may be used for uplinksignals 270 from transponder streams 280. Satellites 230 may be ingeosynchronous orbit. Each of the transponder streams transmitted bysatellites 230 may contain multiple television channels transmitted aspacketized data. For example, a single transponder stream may be aserial digital packet stream containing multiple television channels.Therefore, packets for multiple television channels may be interspersed.

Multiple satellites 230 may be used to relay television channels fromtelevision service provider system 110 to satellite antenna 240.Different television channels may be carried using different satellites.Different television channels may also be carried using differenttransponders of the same satellite; thus, such television channels maybe transmitted at different frequencies and/or different frequencyranges. As an example, a first and second television channel may berelayed via a first transponder of satellite 230-1. A third, fourth, andfifth television channel may be relayed via a different satellite or adifferent transponder of the same satellite relaying a transponderstream at a different frequency. A transponder stream transmitted by aparticular transponder of a particular satellite may include a finitenumber of television channels, such as seven. Accordingly, if manytelevision channels are to be made available for viewing and recording,multiple transponder streams may be necessary to transmit all of thetelevision channels to the instances of user equipment. Each transponderstream may be able to carry a finite amount of data. As such, the numberof television channels that can be included in a particular transponderstream may be at least partially dependent on the resolution of thevideo of the television channel. For example, a transponder stream maybe able to carry seven or eight television channels at a highresolution, but may be able to carry dozens, fifty, a hundred, twohundred, or some other number of television channels at reducedresolutions.

Satellite antenna 240 may be a piece of user equipment that is used toreceive transponder streams from one or more satellites, such assatellites 230. Satellite antenna 240 may be provided to a subscriberfor use on a subscription basis to receive television channels providedby the television service provider system 110, satellite transmitterequipment 220, and/or satellites 230. Satellite antenna 240, which mayinclude one or more low noise blocks (LNBs), may be configured toreceive transponder streams from multiple satellites and/or multipletransponders of the same satellite. Satellite antenna 240 may beconfigured to receive television channels via transponder streams onmultiple frequencies. Based on the characteristics of televisionreceiver 120-2 and/or satellite antenna 240, it may only be possible tocapture transponder streams from a limited number of transpondersconcurrently. For example, a tuner of television receiver 120-2 may onlybe able to tune to a single transponder stream from a transponder of asingle satellite at a given time. The tuner can then be re-tuned toanother transponder of the same or a different satellite. A televisionreceiver 120-2 having multiple tuners may allow for multiple transponderstreams to be received at the same time.

In communication with satellite antenna 240 may be one or moretelevision receivers. Television receivers may be configured to decodesignals received from satellites 230 via satellite antenna 240 foroutput and presentation via a display device, such as television 130. Atelevision receiver may be incorporated as part of a television or maybe part of a separate device, commonly referred to as a set-top box(STB). Television receiver 120-2 may decode signals received viasatellite antenna 240 and provide an output to television 130. FIG. 2provides additional detail of various embodiments of a televisionreceiver. A television receiver is defined to include set-top boxes(STBs) and also circuitry having similar functionality that may beincorporated with another device. For instance, circuitry similar tothat of a television receiver may be incorporated as part of atelevision. As such, while FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment oftelevision receiver 120-2 as separate from television 130, it should beunderstood that, in other embodiments, similar functions may beperformed by a television receiver integrated with television 130.

Television 130 may be used to present video and/or audio decoded andoutput by television receiver 120-2. Television receiver 120-2 may alsooutput a display of one or more interfaces to television 130, such as anelectronic programming guide (EPG). In many embodiments, television 130is a television. Television 130 may also be a monitor, computer, or someother device configured to display video and, possibly, play audio.

Uplink signal 270-1 represents a signal between satellite transmitterequipment 220 and satellite 230-1. Uplink signal 270-2 represents asignal between satellite transmitter equipment 220 and satellite 230-2.Each of uplink signals 270 may contain streams of one or more differenttelevision channels. For example, uplink signal 270-1 may contain afirst group of television channels, while uplink signal 270-2 contains asecond group of television channels. Each of these television channelsmay be scrambled such that unauthorized persons are prevented fromaccessing the television channels.

Transponder stream 280-1 represents a transponder stream signal betweensatellite 230-1 and satellite antenna 240. Transponder stream 280-2represents a transponder stream signal between satellite 230-2 andsatellite antenna 240. Each of transponder streams 280 may contain oneor more different television channels, which may be at least partiallyscrambled. For example, transponder stream 280-1 may be a firsttransponder stream containing a first group of television channels,while transponder stream 280-2 may be a second transponder streamcontaining a different group of television channels. When a televisionchannel is received as part of a transponder stream and is decoded andoutput to television 130 (rather than first storing the televisionchannel to a storage medium as part of DVR functionality, then lateroutputting the television channel from the storage medium), thetelevision channel may be considered to be viewed “live.”

FIG. 2 illustrates transponder stream 280-1 and transponder stream 280-2being received by satellite antenna 240 and distributed to televisionreceiver 120-2. For a first group of television channels, satelliteantenna 240 may receive transponder stream 280-1 and for a second groupof channels, transponder stream 280-2 may be received. Televisionreceiver 120-2 may decode the received transponder streams. As such,depending on which television channels are desired to be presented orstored, various transponder streams from various satellites may bereceived, descrambled, and decoded by television receiver 120-2.

Network 140 may serve as a secondary communication channel betweentelevision service provider system 110 and television receiver 120-2.However, in many instances, television receiver 120-2 may bedisconnected from network 140 (for reasons such as because televisionreceiver 120-2 is not configured to connect to network 140 or asubscriber does not desire or cannot connect to network 140). Via such asecondary communication channel, bidirectional exchange of data mayoccur. As such, data may be transmitted to television service providersystem 110 from television receiver 120-2 via network 140. Data may alsobe transmitted from television service provider system 110 to televisionreceiver 120-2 via network 140. Network 140 may be the Internet. Whileaudio and video services may be provided to television receiver 120-2via satellites 230, feedback from television receiver 120-2 totelevision service provider system 110 may be transmitted via network140. In some embodiments, sports gaming data to populate the sportsgaming application may be sent via satellites 230 such that a televisionviewer can use the sports gaming application even if no internetapplication is available to television receiver 120-2.

Television service provider system 110, which can include one or morecomputer server systems, can execute sports gaming interface 211. Sportsgaming interface 211 may serve as an intermediary between televisionreceivers and sportsbook system 150. Sports gaming interface 211 mayforward information from sportsbook system 150 to the appropriatetelevision receiver. Sports gaming interface 211 may forward informationfrom a television receiver, such as television receiver 120-2, tosportsbook system 150. Sports gaming interface 211 may maintain adatastore that indicates an account identifier or television receiveridentifier that is mapped to a sports gaming account identifier.Therefore, if sports gaming interface 211 receives data mapped to aparticular sports gaming account identifier, television service providersystem 110 can forward the information, either via network 140 or viasatellite, to the appropriate television receiver.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of television service provider system110. Television service provider system 110 can include: sportsbookapplication programming interface (API) 310; television distributionnetwork interface 320; streaming interface 330; access rights engine340; user rights database 350; content event database 355; temporaryuser rights database 360; access rights ledger engine 370; and ledgerdatabase 380.

Television service provider system 110 may include one or morespecial-purpose or general-purpose processors to perform the functionsof its various components. Such special-purpose processors may includeprocessors that are specifically designed to perform the functionsdetailed herein. Such special-purpose processors may be ASICs or FPGAswhich are general-purpose components that are physically andelectrically configured to perform the functions detailed herein. Suchgeneral-purpose processors may execute special-purpose software that isstored using one or more non-transitory processor-readable mediums, suchas random access memory (RAM), flash memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), ora solid state drive (SSD).

Sportsbook API 310 may be used to communicate with sportsbook system150. Sportsbook API 310 may receive queries from sportsbook system 150related to: whether a particular user account has access to a particulartelevision channel; a request for a listing for television channels towhich a user account does (or does not) have access; an indication of aspecific wager and user account to determine if the user account ispermitted to view the associated sporting event; and a request foraccess for a particular user account for a content event.

In response to a query received via sportsbook API 310, access rightsengine 340 may query user rights database 350 to determine one or morerights schemes mapped to a user account. User rights database 350 mayindicate television channels to which a user account has access based ona subscription with the television service provider. Access rightsengine 340 can be used to determine if a user account has access to aparticular television channel or to retrieve a listing of all televisionchannels (or all channels within a particular genre, e.g., sports) towhich the user account has access. An indication of whether access ispermitted to a particular television channel or a listing of channels towhich access is permitted may be returned via sportsbook API 310 tosportsbook system 150.

In some embodiments, access rights engine 340 may receive an indicationof a wager or event from sportsbook API 310. Access rights engine 340may access content event database 355 or content server system 160 toobtain details about the television channel associated with the wager orevent. For example, content server system 160 or content event database355 may provide details on the sporting event, such as the televisionchannel, the date, the scheduled start time and scheduled end time ofthe sporting event on the television channel, details of the teams andplayers participating in the sporting event (e.g., team records,player-specific statistics), the location of the sporting event, and/orother details of the sporting event.

In response to a request from sportsbook API 310, access rights engine340 can grant temporary access to the user account to view a particulartelevision channel, which may be a PPV channel or a television channelassociated with a content provider (e.g., ESPN, Fox Sports, TNT, etc.).Access rights engine 340 may create an entry in temporary user rightsdatabase 360 that indicates a particular rights scheme to which the useraccount is being granted temporary access based on a wager placed withsportsbook API 310. In some embodiments, rather than using a separatetemporary user rights database 260, user rights within user rightsdatabase 350 may be modified. A particular rights scheme may give a useraccount access to a particular television channel or a set of televisionchannels. For example, a set of television channels may be linked withthe same rights scheme and, therefore, access may only be able to becontrolled as a group. If a user is to be granted access rights to aparticular television channel, a particular rights scheme may give theuser temporary access to a group of television channels that includesthe television channel on which the sporting event is being broadcast.If the user uses an OTT streaming platform rather than a dedicatedtelevision receiver to view the event, the user may have access only tothe particular television channel since access rights may be handleddifferently for different forms of content delivery networks.

Included in an entry in temporary user rights database 360 may be anindication of when access should be revoked for the television channelon which the sporting event is being broadcast. In some embodiments,access is provided only for the time period (plus a buffer amount oftime) for which the sporting event is scheduled. In other embodiments,access may be granted on a day by day basis. Therefore, if a useraccount is to receive a rights scheme to view a particular televisionchannel, the user account may be authorized to view the particulartelevision channel for the entire day on which the sporting event isscheduled.

When a television channel has been authorized for viewing, access rightsengine 340 may cause data to be transmitted via television distributionnetwork interface 320 via the television distribution network thatcauses the television receiver to be authorized to be the televisionchannel. For example, in the example of a satellite-based televisiondistribution network, an encrypted addressed message to the set-top boxassociated with the user account may be sent that provides sufficientinformation to allow the STB to decrypt or descramble the televisionchannel. A permission message may also be sent via streaming interface330 to a streaming platform that provides access rights to the useraccount to view the television channel via an OTT streaming network.

Access rights ledger engine 370 may monitor instances of access to atelevision channel being granted based on a message received from viasportsbook API 310 from sportsbook system 150. Access rights ledgerengine 370 may make a record within ledger database 380 that indicatesthe period of time for which each user account was granted access, andto which television channel access was granted. Ledger database 380 maybe used to properly compensate content providers that produced thetelevision channels. This information may also be used to obtaincompensation from the sportsbook provider for access being granted tothe television channel.

After a sporting event associated with a wager has concluded, access tothe television channel by the user account may be revoked. Access rightsengine 340 may access temporary user rights database 360 to determinecontent events that have already occurred and, thus, access to theassociated television channel should be revoked. Temporary user rightsdatabase 360 can include a date/time entry in a database entryindicating when the rights scheme for a television channel for a useraccount should be removed. Upon the time being reached, access rightsengine 340 can communicate with television distribution networkinterface 320 and streaming interface 330 to deauthorize access to thetelevision channel by the user account. In some embodiments, the amountof time granted for access to the television channel is extendedsignificantly before and/or after the content event to encourage theuser to place the wager.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment 400 of a sports wagering user interface410 (“interface 400”). Interface 400 may be presented by a streamingdevice (via a television), a television receiver (via a television),and/or via a computerized device. Sports wagering user interface 410 mayallow a user to review, stage, or book wagers with a sportsbook system.In some embodiments, content may be viewed live while prospective andbooked wagers are viewed. Sports wagering user interface 410 (which maynot include live content) may also be provided directly by sportsbooksystem 150, such as on an application executed on a mobile device.Interface 410 may allow a user to provide credentials, such as ausername and password, and may also allow the user to access a useraccount with the sportsbook system 150.

Sports event wager block 430 corresponds to the same sporting event assports event wager block 440. When a wager is placed through sportsevent wager block 440, access to view the sporting event is providedthrough the television service provider system, whereas in the case ofthe wagers placed through sports event wager block 430, access is notincluded as part of the wager. The odds, payout, minimum bet, or otherparameters of the wager may be set based on whether access to view thesporting event is to be included with the wager. Therefore, exclusivelyconsidering gambling, a wager that does not include viewing rights mayremain the best deal for the user. However, when enjoyment is factoredin, the user may prefer selection of a wager that includes viewingrights.

In other embodiments, viewing access may always be included with thewager and parameters of the wager may not be adjusted to factor inproviding access. In some embodiments, user accounts with the sportsbooksystem that are within at least a certain tier of customers (e.g.,customers who bet at least $100 per month) may be provided access to thecontent without any change in parameters of the wager. In still otherembodiments, a user may be permitted to specify whether he desiresaccess to view any or particular sporting events prior to availablewagers being presented to the user. Whether wagers include viewingaccess may be at least partially dependent on the answers of the user.In some embodiments, as part of a points or rewards system, a user mayreceive points for placing wagers, which can be redeemed for viewing thesports event linked with a wager. In some embodiments, by placingcertain types or amounts of wagers, a user may receive unrestrictedsports event viewing on certain television channels.

To produce interface 410, a query may first have been performed todetermine that the user account does not have access to the televisionchannel on which the sporting event of sports event wager blocks 430 and440 are to be broadcast. In contrast, if it had been determined that theuser account already has a subscription or other form of access to thetelevision channel on which the sporting event of sports event wagerblocks 430 and 440 is to be broadcast, interface 410 could only includea single sports event wager block that does not refer to viewing access.

In some embodiments, a user may place more than one wagers that resultsin the user wanting to watch multiple television channelssimultaneously. To view such television channels simultaneously, a usermay be set content output device, such as a television receiver, to aparticular television channel number or mode. The television receivermay obtain content from the multiple television channels associated withwagers for which a corresponding event is currently occurring andpresent the multiple television channels simultaneously in the form of amosaic. The number of television channels can be varied based on thecurrently-active wagers of the user. A user may be permitted to select aparticular television channel from the mosaic if the user desires tolisten to audio from that television channel. The user may also bepermitted to select a particular television channel to view full screen.

Various methods may be performed using the systems and interfacesdetailed in relation to FIGS. 1-4 . FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment ofa method 500 for authorizing content viewing. Method 500 may beperformed using system 100, including television service provider system110 of FIG. 3 and sportsbook system 150.

At block 510, via a television receiver, streaming device, computerizeddevice, or mobile device, a user can submit input to the sportsbooksystem indicating whether viewing access is to be included in any, some,all, or particular wagers. Such input from the user can be received bythe sportsbook system in association with an indication of a useraccount of the user. In some embodiments, a user may select particulartelevision channels for which he desires to obtain access when a wageris placed. In other embodiments, the user may only provide an indicationof whether or not access to view content associated with a sports wageris desired. The user may be permitted to indicate that he desires bothoptions that include viewing and options that do not include viewing tobe offered.

At block 520, which may be performed in response to block 510, thesportsbook user account may be linked with a television service provideruser account of the user. Block 520 permits the sportsbook system toprovide a request to the television service provider system for accessfor viewing a particular television channel or piece of content for thecorrect user account at the television service provider system. Block520 can involve the user providing a username and password for thetelevision service provider system to the sportsbook system.Alternatively, block 520 can involve the user providing a username andpassword for the sportsbook system to the television service providersystem. Block 520 may be performed by the television service providersystem and/or the sportsbook system.

At block 530, a determination may be made by the television providersystem as to which television channels the television service provideruser account of the user has access. Block 530 may be performed inresponse to a request from the sportsbook system. The sportsbook systemmay send a request to determine whether access is available to aparticular television channel or to retrieve a list of all televisionchannels to which the user account has access. The television serviceprovider system may access a user rights database to determine one ormore rights schemes assigned to the user account. In response to therequest, an indication of whether the user account has access to theparticular television channel or a list of television channels may beprovided.

At block 540, the sportsbook system may determine content eventscorresponding to wagers available for selection by the user. Todetermine a content event, the sportsbook system may retrieve eventinformation from a database or a separate provider system, such ascontent server system 160. The content event may indicate the televisionchannel, date, start time, and end time of the sporting event. Thisinformation may be used to determine whether or not the user has accessthrough the television service provider system to the television channelon which the content event is scheduled to be broadcast. In someembodiments, a user interface output by the sportsbook system mayindicate details of the content event. In some embodiments, a furtherdetermination may be made by the sportsbook system as to whether thetelevision channel is available for access to be temporarily grantedbased on a sports wager. (For example, the television service providermay block access to particular television channels.)

At block 550, one or more parameters of the wager may be set by thesportsbook system based at least in part on a determination based onblock 510 that access to a content event associated with the wager isdesired, the content event associated with the wager being at block 540,and the user does not already have access to the television channelbased on block 530. The perimeter of the wager that is set at block 550may be a minimum wager amount, the odds, the spread, or some otherparameter of the wager. In other embodiments, rather than a perimeter ofthe wager being adjusted, access to view the content event may beoffered on some other basis, such as by redeeming points, by apromotion, or by the user having qualified for particular rewards levelwith the sportsbook provider.

At block 560, the user may enter into the wager with the sportsbooksystem. This can include the user selecting an amount of money that hedesires to place on the wager and the amount of money being deductedfrom an account of the user established with the sportsbook system. Theuser may be issued an electronic wager receipt indicative of a uniqueidentifier mapped to the wager. Block 560 being completed may triggeraccess for viewing the content event mapped to the wager being provided.Access to viewing the content event may be provided as detailed inrelation to method 600 of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a method for authorizing contentviewing. Method 600 may be performed using system 100, includingtelevision service provider system 110 of FIG. 3 and sportsbook system150. Method 600 may be performed following method 500.

At block 610, sports wager data for a sports wager placed by a user maybe received by a television service provider system. The sports wagerdata may indicate: one or more teams on which the sports wager wasplaced, the date of the event corresponding to the sports wager, atelevision channel corresponding to the sports wager, a start time and,possibly, a time of the sports event corresponding to the sports wager,wager parameters, and/or the amount placed on the wager by the user. Insome embodiments, the sports wager data may indicate the date, starttime, end time, and television channel for which access should beauthorized and, therefore, block 620 may not need to be performed.

At block 620, if further information about the sports wager is needed bythe television service provider, the television service provider mayperform a content event look-up based on the sports wager data. Thecontent event lookup may be used to determine the television channel,date, start time, and, possibly, end time of the sporting eventcorresponding to the wager.

At block 630, the user account of the user at the television serviceprovider may be authorized using a rights scheme that provides access tothe television channel on which the content event is scheduled to bebroadcast. The rights scheme may be activated a predetermined amount oftime prior to the beginning of the content event. In some embodiments,this may mean that the rights scheme is authorized for the entire day onwhich the content event is scheduled to be broadcast. In otherembodiments, the rights scheme may be authorized for an hour before andtwo hours after the content event to ensure the entirety of the contentevent is accessible by the user. The rights scheme that is authorizedmay permit the user to view more television channels than the televisionchannel on which the content event is to be broadcast; alternatively,the rights scheme may be limited to only the television channel on whichthe content event is scheduled to be broadcast. Block 630 may include anentry being made by the television service provider system in atemporary rights database or other form of rights database such that theuser account can be used to view the television channel on which thecontent event is scheduled to be broadcast. For satellite-basedtelevision receivers, this can include an addressed permission messagebeing transmitted via satellite that is received by the televisionreceiver mapped to the user account.

At block 640, the television service provider system may create a ledgerentry indicating the television channel or rights package and the timeperiod of access that has been authorized based on the sports wager datareceived at block 610.

At block 650, access to the television channel may be permitted duringthe authorized time period. At block 660, following an end time of thecontent event or the next day following the content event, the useraccount maintained by the television service provider system may bede-authorized for access by the television service provider system, suchas by removing the rights scheme from a temporary access database.

The methods, systems, and devices discussed above are examples. Variousconfigurations may omit, substitute, or add various procedures orcomponents as appropriate. For instance, in alternative configurations,the methods may be performed in an order different from that described,and/or various stages may be added, omitted, and/or combined. Also,features described with respect to certain configurations may becombined in various other configurations. Different aspects and elementsof the configurations may be combined in a similar manner. Also,technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples and donot limit the scope of the disclosure or claims.

Specific details are given in the description to provide a thoroughunderstanding of example configurations (including implementations).However, configurations may be practiced without these specific details.For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, andtechniques have been shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoidobscuring the configurations. This description provides exampleconfigurations only, and does not limit the scope, applicability, orconfigurations of the claims. Rather, the preceding description of theconfigurations will provide those skilled in the art with an enablingdescription for implementing described techniques. Various changes maybe made in the function and arrangement of elements without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the disclosure.

Also, configurations may be described as a process which is depicted asa flow diagram or block diagram. Although each may describe theoperations as a sequential process, many of the operations can beperformed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of theoperations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps notincluded in the figure. Furthermore, examples of the methods may beimplemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode,hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. Whenimplemented in software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, the programcode or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in anon-transitory computer-readable medium such as a storage medium.Processors may perform the described tasks.

Having described several example configurations, various modifications,alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departingfrom the spirit of the disclosure. For example, the above elements maybe components of a larger system, wherein other rules may takeprecedence over or otherwise modify the application of the invention.Also, a number of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after theabove elements are considered.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for authorizing content viewing, thesystem comprising: a television service provider system, configured to:receive, from an electronic sportsbook provider system, sports wagerdata corresponding to a sports wager placed by a user; perform a lookupto determine a content event based on the sports wager data; in responseto the received sports wager data, authorize a user account using arights scheme for access to a television channel on which the contentevent is scheduled to be broadcast; and deauthorize the user account foraccess to the television channel by removing the rights scheme such thataccess to the television channel on which the content event wasbroadcast is blocked in response to the received sports wager data. 2.The system for authorizing content viewing of claim 1, wherein thetelevision service provider system is further configured to transmitauthorized channel data for the user account to the electronicsportsbook provider system.
 3. The system for authorizing contentviewing of claim 2, further comprising the electronic sportsbookprovider system configured to set a minimum bet amount partially basedon the authorized channel data for the user account.
 4. The system forauthorizing content viewing of claim 2, further comprising theelectronic sportsbook provider system configured to set odds partiallybased on the authorized channel data for the user account.
 5. The systemfor authorizing content viewing of claim 1, further comprising theelectronic sportsbook provider system configured to: receive anindication from the user indicating that viewing access to the contentevent is desired; and map the user account to the user, wherein thesports wager data corresponding to the sports wager is transmitted bythe electronic sportsbook provider system to the television serviceprovider system based at least in part on the indication from the userindicating that viewing access to the content event is desired.
 6. Thesystem for authorizing content viewing of claim 1, further comprisingthe television service provider system configured to: receive, from theelectronic sportsbook provider system, sports wager data correspondingto a plurality of sports wagers placed by the user, the plurality ofsports wagers comprising the sports wager; and cause a mosaic interfaceto be configured at a content viewing device mapped to the user accountthat causes a plurality of content events corresponding to the pluralityof sports wagers to be output for presentation concurrently.
 7. Thesystem for authorizing content viewing of claim 1, wherein the contentevent indicates: the television channel; a date; a start time; and anend time.
 8. The system for authorizing content viewing of claim 1,further comprising: a television receiver device, wherein the televisionservice provider system is further configured to: stream the televisionchannel to the television receiver device via a television distributionnetwork, wherein the television receiver device is mapped to the useraccount.
 9. The system for authorizing content viewing of claim 8,wherein the television receiver device is further configured to presentan indication of the sports wager placed by the user concurrently withthe television channel.
 10. The system for authorizing content viewingof claim 1, further comprising: a computerized streaming device, whereinthe television service provider system is further configured to: streamthe television channel to an application being executed by thecomputerized streaming device via the Internet, wherein the user accountis active within the application.
 11. The system for authorizing contentviewing of claim 1, wherein the television service provider system beingconfigured to deauthorize the user account for access to the televisionchannel by removing the rights scheme is based on the content eventhaving concluded.
 12. A method for authorizing content viewing, themethod comprising: receiving, by a television service provider systemfrom an electronic sportsbook provider system, sports wager datacorresponding to a sports wager placed by a user; performing, by thetelevision service provider system, a lookup to determine a contentevent based on the sports wager data; in response to the received sportswager data, authorizing, by the television service provider system, auser account using a rights scheme for access to a television channel onwhich the content event is scheduled to be broadcast; and deauthorizing,by the television service provider system, the user account for accessto the television channel by removing the rights scheme such that accessto the television channel on which the content event was broadcast isblocked in response to the received sports wager data.
 13. The methodfor authorizing content viewing of claim 12, further comprisingtransmitting authorized channel data for the user account to theelectronic sportsbook provider system.
 14. The method for authorizingcontent viewing of claim 13, further comprising setting, by theelectronic sportsbook provider system, a minimum bet amount partiallybased on the authorized channel data for the user account.
 15. Themethod for authorizing content viewing of claim 13, further comprisingsetting, by the electronic sportsbook provider system, odds partiallybased on the authorized channel data for the user account.
 16. Themethod for authorizing content viewing of claim 12, the method furthercomprising: receiving, by the electronic sportsbook provider system, anindication from the user indicating that viewing access to the contentevent is desired; and mapping, by the electronic sportsbook providersystem, the user account to the user, wherein the sports wager datacorresponding to the sports wager is transmitted by the electronicsportsbook provider system to the television service provider systembased at least in part on the indication from the user indicating thatviewing access to the content event is desired.
 17. The method forauthorizing content viewing of claim 12, the method further comprising:receiving, by the television service provider system from the electronicsportsbook provider system, sports wager data corresponding to aplurality of sports wagers placed by the user, the plurality of sportswagers comprising the sports wager; and causing, by the televisionservice provider system, a mosaic interface to be configured at acontent viewing device mapped to the user account that causes aplurality of content events corresponding to the plurality of sportswagers to be output for presentation concurrently.
 18. The method forauthorizing content viewing of claim 12, wherein the content eventindicates: the television channel; a date; a start time; and an endtime.
 19. The method for authorizing content viewing of claim 12,further comprising: streaming, by the television provider system, thetelevision channel to the television receiver device via a televisiondistribution network, wherein the television receiver device is mappedto the user account.
 20. The method for authorizing content viewing ofclaim 19, further comprising outputting for presentation, by thetelevision receiver device, an indication of the sports wager placed bythe user concurrently with the television channel.